Austin Pierson

Another BIG week at Supply Chain Now! If you missed an episode, get a quick summary and listen here! We added another TWO additional episodes this week starting on Saturday, August 1st. If you didn’t catch our Supply Chain Buzz livestream last week, you got another chance to see Scott and Greg cover the top news in Supply Chain on Saturday. Supply Chain Now · “The Supply Chain Buzz for July 27th: Brand Rationalization, CSCO Diversity, & More”     On Sunday, we continued our Logistics with Purpose series with a great interview with Jon Thompson with Comunidad Connect.   Supply Chain Now · “Logistics with Purpose: Jon Thompson with Comunidad Connect”     On Monday, Scott and Greg spoke with Andrea Kerr, the VP of Product Management with SpotSee, all about optimizing supply chain visibility.   Supply Chain Now · “Optimizing Supply Chain Visibility: Angela Kerr with SpotSee”     On Tuesday we had ANOTHER great new program debut! We published the first episode of the Jamin Logistics & Transportation Experience, as Jamin Alvidrez interviewed our very own, Scott Luton!   Supply Chain Now · “Adapt & Thrive: Lessons from the Air Force, Andy Griffith & Granddad with Guest…

In schools and childcare centers, every dollar counts. But there’s another resource that may be just as precious: time. In a recent conversation with Scott Luton, Ashley Hubka, SVP & GM of Walmart Business, explored the often-overlooked role procurement plays in education. From preparing for the back-to-school rush to managing staff shortages and embracing AI, Hubka’s message was consistent: Simplifying routine purchasing can give educators and administrators more time to focus on the people they serve. And that opportunity may be substantial: according to a recent survey of more than 500 decision-makers at businesses with 10–500 employees, 37% of business leaders spend 4–7 hours each week on routine purchasing. Different Organizations, Similar Challenges A school district serving 30,000 students and a childcare center supporting 500 children may operate at vastly different scales, but Hubka says their procurement challenges often look surprisingly similar. Both organizations must stretch budgets, stay stocked, support multiple users and locations, and respond quickly when needs change. When purchasing is fragmented across suppliers and systems, they face increased complexity and reduced visibility. The back-to-school season magnifies those challenges. “Back-to-school condenses months of planning and purchasing into a very short window,” Hubka explained. At the same time organizations…